Heading north on State Route 98 back to Bucyrus, I looked over to the west and saw that I was pacing a 104-car northbound mixed freight on Norfolk Southern. I sped up a little to get ahead of it, hoping to catch it at the crossing on 98 at the south end of town. Unfortunately, I got to the crossing too soon and couldn't stop to wait with the signals not on yet due to traffic behind me. I turned right onto Beal Avenue, but I again got to the crossing too soon and couldn't stop due to a vehicle behind me. I then turned left onto Isaac Beal Road, getting to the crossing just as the signals were turning on.